Food & Drink Expo returns with action-packed speaker programme

Food & Drink Expo 2016 is now just weeks away with exhibitors, speakers and show themes all confirmed. Based at the NEC, Birmingham from 18-20 April, Food & Drink Expo will give buyers from the grocery, wholesale and foodservice sectors the opportunity to source the latest products and identify trends. This year’s event will have a focus on the future of the food and drink industry over the coming years, allowing visitors to prepare for the next big thing. More than 1,200 exhibitors will showcase their latest innovations to thousands of expected visitors across four co-located events. Food & Drink Expo will run alongside three complementary shows – Foodex, Farm Shop & Deli Show and the National Convenience Show. International companies are a particular focus at this year’s show, with businesses and organisations from a Novia Scotia, Beijing, Wales, Ireland and Morocco using the event to highlight produce from their nations and breakthrough to the UK market.

Live sessionsThe last Food & Drink Expo show in 2014 featured the hugely popular and informative Brainfood Factory, which has been rebranded as The Grocer Talking Shop Live for the 2016 event. This platform will be packed full of expert speakers with sessions designed to cover all aspects of the industry.On Monday 18 April, the popular Great British Bake Off 2016 winner Nadiya Hussain will show off her skills and her unique baking techniques in a live on-stage demonstration. Another highlight from the show’s first day alone includes ‘How to build a successful brand’ with top experts sharing their experiences of launching successful food and drink brands. On the second day, The Grocer Talking Shop Live will see British business journalist Steph McGovern host a panel on ‘What is the answer to the sugar debate?’. Panellists will include Ian Wright, Chief Executive of the Food and Drink Federation alongside other major figures in the industry.In another highly topical debate on Tuesday, the stage will host ‘The great waste debate’, featuring Love Food Hate Waste ambassador Richard Fox. Arthur Potts Dawson from The People’s Supermarket, celebrity chef Simon Rimmer and Head of Sustainability for Sainsbury’s Paul Crewe will also join the panel to weigh in on the debate.

Great New IdeaThe show will also play host to the Great New Idea competition. The award will be voted for by visitors leading up to the show, online. The finalists will then take to the stage to present their innovations to a panel of judges who will select an overall winner.

Aside from exploring the show floor and frequenting the lively debates, visitors can head to the Engage Lounge. This is an area highlighting all sectors of the industry and offering visitors and exhibitors the chance to meet, interact and relax whilst sourcing industry information.

Dan Dixon, Food & Drink Expo Event Director, commented: “This is THE event for Food and Drink professionals in 2016 and such an important calendar date for buyers to source new products and forge new supplier links. As such, and along with the co-located shows, the 2016 event promises to be the best show yet and will provide visitors with a programme that identifies key trends that will drive the future of the UK food and drink market.”To register for free, receiving entry to all co-located shows, visit: www.foodanddrinkexpo.co.uk